Pot rail
A pot rail, also called a utensil rack, is a versatile kitchen gadget that accommodates a lot more than just pots. This thin metal pole or strip with S-hooks allows you to hang almost anything that can lay partially flat and has a hole in its handle (for the hook). Think cutting boards, measuring cups, potholders and most cooking utensils.
Found in the kitchen section of most home or hardware stores, and with varying lengths from 18 to 36 inches, pot rails can usually fit the space on the side of a cabinet, in a small nook or above the stove.

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Shelves are your best friend in any kitchen, especially one with limited counter and cabinet space. Every kitchen is different, but no matter how small, there is typically at least part of a wall that can accommodate even the smallest shelf. Since shelving comes in various lengths and depths, get creative and look to hang a shelf on your unused surfaces, as in the space above your stove, on the side of a cabinet wall or even above your window.

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Go off-centre
An interesting way to play with colour and shape in the kitchen is to use an asymmetrical design like this one. The matt, bare wood units contrast with shiny, glass-fronted charcoal cabinets – and the off-centre layout is just that little bit more interesting than a symmetrical design.
However, it still feels balanced, as the two tall cabinets either side of the sink are the same size. Although they have opposing designs, their matching height and width keep the space looking harmonious.

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Here is a vintage butler’s pantry, with see-through glass cabinets to display the dinnerware and add a bit of drama. Interestingly, the wooden cabinets and drawers are made of repurposed 18th century wood. Truly beautiful, inside and out

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This wooden cabinet is like a mini-pantry, with narrow racks on the insides of the doors, for storing jars and bottles of spices and other ingredients. The wall-mounted shelves have more depth and are just right for storing bigger items

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Cabinet design for kitchen
This super-slim cabinet design for the kitchen shows how to do more with less when you want to keep knick-knacks organised. The tall shallow cabinet stands neatly installed on the side of a deeper cabinet, in a sliver of a corner. Even with minimal breadth, there’s room to hang keys and store recipe books. For me, the highlight is the white board – a perfect spot for a to-do list!

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Interior lighting
The joy of being able to actually see what you are looking for cannot be overstated. If your pantry is lacking in the lighting department, remedy the situation by adding an overhead fixture or wall sconces.
Hiring an electrician is well worth the cost when it impacts your daily life for the better – and being able to easily find what you’re looking for while trying to get dinner on the table definitely counts!

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Magnetic spice containers
Figuring out the best place to store spices is a common struggle. Keeping frequently used spices near your stove is handy, but since spices tend to stay fresh longer when stored in a cool, dry place, the pantry is a better choice for the bulk of your spice collection. Save precious shelf space by installing a magnetic spice rack on the wall – just be sure to label the lids so you can tell what’s what at a glance.

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Command centre
Need to save school notices and stash incoming mail, but don’t want them cluttering up the kitchen counter? Carve out space along one wall in the pantry for a neat command centre, with a bulletin board, mail slots and hooks for keys.
And you don’t need a walk-in pantry to make this work – just hang similar pieces on the back of the pantry door.

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Back-of-door organiser
Expand your organising possibilities with back-of-door shelving designed to hold bottles and jars one-deep. To make the most of this prime pantry space, use it to store your most frequently reached-for spices and staple ingredients. The best back-of-door shelves have guardrails (as seen here) so items don’t topple off every time you open and close the door.

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This minimal spice and utensils rack allows all important condiments and implements to be at one place, organised and within arm’s reach.
Tip: Ensure that you keep your dried herbs and spices in a spot that does not get direct sunlight, which can degrade them

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For plate racks, you could consider an open dish-drying rack like this installed above the sink that ensures the plates dry quickly and no moisture or consequent mould collects inside the cabinet.

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A bold display of various types of knives can give the kitchen a Masterchef-type vibe. The minimal rack with an array of matching knives shows that the cook is experienced and particular about food prep.

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Flush-mounted LED lights
Flush-mounted LEDs can be fixed directly onto the true ceiling wherever there is provision of wiring for the light.
Note that decorative LED pendant lights can be fixed onto the ceiling in a similar way.

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Go for a magic corner (a mechanism that includes a combination of door basket shelves and swing-out wire racks). This will allow you to open a world of storage by employing every nook and cranny of your corner unit.

Hanging racks
A hanging rack can be a clever way to display frequently used items like ladles, pans, scoops and spatulas, and it can save you precious cabinet space.
In the kitchen above, a scintillating show of silver cutlery presents the home cook with an array of easy-access kitchen tools. A deep alcove in the second image offers inspiration on how one can aesthetically hang pots and pans along a stylish retractable rod.

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Creating pigeonholes within your drawers can be a great way to mark distinct zones for your cutlery, crockery and cookware

It’s not just drawers that can work magic as a kitchen organisation hack. If you don’t have a designated pantry area, install movable shelving units into your under-the-counter cabinets to create a bespoke one of your own.

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Pull-out pantry
Retractable drawer wire baskets can be the perfect way of reaching every single item in your pantry and utilising every inch of dead space. Also, by adding a convenient door rack like this one, you can create double the display at half the effort.

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The kitchen uses birch ply for the cabinetry and storage units. “The durability of the material is increased by using a sealing coat of clear matte oil,” says Lalan. Clever designing of the storage unit allows for full use of this structure, with different sections opening up in multiple ways, such as top-hung shutters, open shelves, vertical shutters and drawers. Fluted glass, custom designed door knobs with the edges left raw and exposed, and a concrete-finish countertop infuse the plywood palette with interesting details.
NOTE: Look at handles

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